Hi,
I have had african cichlids for may years and are very familiar with that, but I have never had any south americans.
During a recent purchase of a used tank I got some american cichlids that the previous owner could not sell or give away. I was thinking that I could give them away but they have kind of grown on me.
I am now thinking about establishing an SA cichlid+ tank. The tank I have for the purpose is approx. 140 Gallons (530L) and measures 5,3 * 2 * 2 feet.
The stock I have received from the previous owner is:
5 Gold Saum (Green Terrors) (ranging from 1 - 5 inches)
2 Oscars (approx. 4 inch)
2 Jack Dempsey (approx. 2 inch)
I was think that I would get rid of the Jack Dempseys since it would appear that they are not really South American cichlids, and I can easily find someone to take them.
There is one pair between the 5 GT and it seems the Oscars is a pair aswell although this is not confirmed.
My questions is:
1. Can I successfully keep the GT pair and the Oscar pair in the tank?
2. Would it be possible to add a small shoal (6-10) Silver Dollars?
3. Which SA bottom feeders can be added as clean up crew?
4. Using roots / rocks for territory dividers should I try to build high in the middle of the tank, or 2/3. Will it be better to try to make a broader dividing area?
5. What plant species from SA would be hardy enough to survive the fish and the less than ideal plant lighting that SA fish seem to enjoy.
6. I can understand that the water values where the fish naturally lives are very varied from soft/low ph to hard/ high ph. My tap water are quite high in PH and hard, would I need to treat the water somehow?
I hope to get some help and ideas on these questions, ideally from people who has actually tried something similar. I have read the descriptions and articles on the fish from many different sources on the net and in theory the composition could work.
I have had african cichlids for may years and are very familiar with that, but I have never had any south americans.
During a recent purchase of a used tank I got some american cichlids that the previous owner could not sell or give away. I was thinking that I could give them away but they have kind of grown on me.
I am now thinking about establishing an SA cichlid+ tank. The tank I have for the purpose is approx. 140 Gallons (530L) and measures 5,3 * 2 * 2 feet.
The stock I have received from the previous owner is:
5 Gold Saum (Green Terrors) (ranging from 1 - 5 inches)
2 Oscars (approx. 4 inch)
2 Jack Dempsey (approx. 2 inch)
I was think that I would get rid of the Jack Dempseys since it would appear that they are not really South American cichlids, and I can easily find someone to take them.
There is one pair between the 5 GT and it seems the Oscars is a pair aswell although this is not confirmed.
My questions is:
1. Can I successfully keep the GT pair and the Oscar pair in the tank?
2. Would it be possible to add a small shoal (6-10) Silver Dollars?
3. Which SA bottom feeders can be added as clean up crew?
4. Using roots / rocks for territory dividers should I try to build high in the middle of the tank, or 2/3. Will it be better to try to make a broader dividing area?
5. What plant species from SA would be hardy enough to survive the fish and the less than ideal plant lighting that SA fish seem to enjoy.
6. I can understand that the water values where the fish naturally lives are very varied from soft/low ph to hard/ high ph. My tap water are quite high in PH and hard, would I need to treat the water somehow?
I hope to get some help and ideas on these questions, ideally from people who has actually tried something similar. I have read the descriptions and articles on the fish from many different sources on the net and in theory the composition could work.
